I find polycarbonate cases though very light tend to damage easily, hence I much prefer polyproylene — which ironically tends to be cheaper than polycarbonate. This case is very light though, plus a Samsonite. At the price point I got it for I definitely would repeat buy if another such case was required.

 

It’s a good size for overseas travel
Plenty of room
Good zip up compartment inside to stop clothes etc going everywhere
Wheels along nicely
Only had it for one trip but happy with i

 

Have just used it the once so far, so can’t speak on longevity, but so far has been great, particularly like the ease at which the suitcase rolls with the spinner wheels

 

We had a pair of Samsonite hard side cases for probably close to 20 years, but declining luggage allowances on many airlines meant they just became too heavy to use. We reluctantly changed to a pair of Antler soft sided expandable cases a few years ago, but they simply don’t last, so here we are, back in the world of Samsonite hard sides.
We chose these particular cases for their clamshell locking system. It’s the same system as on our previous Samsonites and we’ve found it to be durable, reliable and 100% waterproof. For me, the weak point of any case is the zip; they’re likely to be the thing that breaks first, they’re easy for a thief to get through and they’re not waterproof. These cases are little more than half the weight of our previous Samsonites (although they do weigh a kilo or so more than our soft sides), they’re incredibly manoeuvrable and they look great. The internal dividers make them easy to pack and the lack or lining in the shells will help with long-term durability.
Amazon offered these at the lowest price we could find and we got them on 5 months interest free (although, curiously, you can only buy one on interest free, so the wife and I had to buy one each!).

 

Samsonite S’Cure – Spinner M Suitcase are expensive cases but they are quality case. Its strong lightweight and would buy another one without even thinking about it if needed

 

NO INSTRUCTION for side closures and TSA lock, what nonsense in the name of being ‘GREEN’.

‘No Printed Instruction’ is counter productive, similar to cleaning dishes in a bowl of soapy water that is often mirky, greasy and full of food bits, and then NOT bothering to rinse the soapy dishes with clean running water because you want to save money or be ‘green’. While a piece of printed card is ‘saved’ by the manufacturer, consumers are forced to waste time and use electricity to hunt down the instructions on their device.

As a consumer, I EXPECT instructions to be with the item, this is NOT asking much. I do NOT want the hassle of scanning the QR code to find other information, I am not particularly tech obsessed and not glued to my phone 24/7. Likewise, I really don’t need an app for everything!!

As a result of this ‘Green’ madness, I had to waste time making my own document with instructions for future reference. I also discovered that the 2 side closures must also be slid downwards after they are latched, otherwise, they can become easily unlatched. No matter how intuitive the feature may appear, this crucial safety information should be provided as part of the instructions to avoid any catastrophic accident.

Yes, videos are helpful as a backup option, but lack of printed instructions with the product is UNACCEPTABLE.

 

Light and easy to handle, with a quality feel. The top surface feels a little flimsy at first, as it can be easily pressed in and out. However, I road tested the case on a long-haul to South Africa and it was excellent. The ‘give’ in the lid ensures that it doesn’t get dented, as it springs back into shape. Surface texture also seems to resist marks (unlike the hard shiny cases). A zipped upper compartment allows you to keep items separate from the main body of the case, but apart from a narrow zipped pocket which runs the length of the main body of the case, there is little additional equipment inside, keeping weight to a minimum. The closures and locking system feel solid and secure and there is a watertight seal around the whole of case to prevent water ingress. I chose a case without a zip closure, as these are always the first part to fail and I have had a couple of disasters with them. This case feels very secure. The wheels are efficient and do not stick out to far, so there is less risk of them getting damaged than on some makes. In the final analysis, you get what you pay for and Samsonite is worth the money.

 

Update at 18 months: Despite spending the last 6 months joining me for on at least two flights a week (as checked luggage) it’s happily going strong.

I have now been using this every week for four months for travelling around the UK with my job. I’ll typically be away for four days during the week, and was previously making do with a smaller laptop wheelie bag – but decided to upsize to a larger bag with four wheels to make staying away more comfortable.

I’m extremely happy with this hard (although still flexible) case, it’s suffered only one or two minor scuffs and is easy to clean after being pulled around in the rain, unlike previous fabric cases. It also doesn’t fray or snag like other soft cases do when being taken on/off trains etc.

A few observations:
– It isn’t the lightest. I’m not concerned about this, but a fabric bag will be lighter
– It isn’t the quietest. The wheels are double wheels, and their mounts on the hard case make a lot more noise when dragging than other four wheeled soft suitcases that colleagues have.
– If you are trying to pack a lot in, bear in mind the case isn’t as flexible as a soft case. That said, if you fasten the two end clips first, you can easily clip on the side fastener.
– There are only two storage areas. If you like compartmentalising you will need to buy some packing bags. It would have been nice to have a small pouch for miscellaneous items that you don’t want rattling around in the main areas.

Despite the above, I’m extremely happy with my purchase and would happily buy again.

 

So, overall I think this case is pretty good. Purchased two from Amazon and just used them for a two week tour, four flights and five hotels. Like a lot of reviewers here, I was looking for something to supplement my now ageing collection of Samsonite Oysters (clearly the best suitcase ever made).

Big plus of this case is the excellent mobility – the wheels are great and so far have survived unscathed.

So-so is the robustness – as others have commented, unless the bag is packed fairly solidly it may well come off the line with a big ding in it, but, as others have also commented it will pop back out again. Time will tell how well it lasts, never had that even with a half empty Oyster.

Negative – I should have figured this out before I bought it, it is so obvious, but there you go: this case is hinged in the middle, meaning you pack half your stuff in the “top” and zip the internal cover over it, and half your stuff in the bottom. Meaning you lift everything in the top over to close the bag. All of which is fine, but it means most of the places to put your bag in a hotel will not accommodate it – you can’t put it on a shelf and open the top against a wall. This can be a pain if you are hotel hopping like we were.

Otherwise it is up to the usual standard you would expect from Samsonite, great handle and clasps. Also has the joke TSA lock on it, please don’t tell me you are one of the people who thinks there is a baggage handler anywhere on the planet who can’t open any bag after two weeks on the job – the only purpose of suitcase locks is to reduce the chance of your bag popping open in transit, please remember that and don’t put anything in the hold you can’t easily replace.

The bag weighs about 4kg when empty. With a reasonable mix of clothes, shoes, toiletries and general purpose junk (but no books) it was nudging 20kg so on many airlines that’s your economy class weight allowance, meaning this size is about right for that.

All in all a good case, apart from the kinking and the centre hinge thing which I should have spotted myself – doh!